Hand tool for installing wire fabric fence clamps

ABSTRACT

A plier-like hand tool adapted for installing wire fabric fence clamps is provided. The hand tool has one jaw terminating in an elongated projection adapted to cooperate with an aperture provided proximate one hook-shaped terminal end of a wire fabric fence clamp and a second jaw terminating in a tapered transverse edge adapted to cooperate with another hook-shaped terminal end of the fence clamp. The transverse edge of the second jaw includes a protrusion adapted to cooperate with a cut-out or slot provided in the other terminal end of the fence clamp. The hand tool is also provided with a flat hammer-like surface located on the second jaw which may be used for bending the hook-shaped portions of the fence clamp into permanent engagement with one another.

Basile 51 Mar. 25, 11975 HAND TOOL FOR INSTALLING WIRE FABRIC FENCE CLAMPS Inventor: Peter A. Basile, Edison, NJ.

Amerace Corporation, New York, NY.

Filed: Jan. 10, 1974 Appl. No; 432,357

Assignee:

U.S. Cl. 81/426 Int. Cl 1325b 7/02 Field of Search... 81/425 R, 425 A, 426, 5.1 R;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1894 Williams 140/57 9/1906 Sandall 81/51 R 6/1957 Larson 231/51 R Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard A. Craig, Esq; S. Michael Bender, Esq.; Martin Sachs, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A plier-like hand tool adapted for installing wire fabric fence clamps is provided. The hand tool has one jaw terminating in an elongated projection adaptedto cooperate with an aperture provided proximate one hook-shaped terminal end of a wire fabric fence clamp and a second jaw terminating in a tapered transverse edge adapted to cooperate with another hook-shaped terminal end of the fence clamp. The transverse edge of the second jaw includes a protrusion adapted to cooperate with a cut-out or slot provided in the other terminal end of the fence clamp. The hand tool is also provided with a flat hammer-like surface located on the second jaw which may be used for bending the hook-shaped portions of the fence clamp into permanent engagement with one another.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures HAND TOOL FOR INSTALLING WIRE FABRIC FENCE CLAMPS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to hand tools, and in particular, to a hand tool for installing wire fabric fence clamps adapted to retain wire fabric material on fence frame structures.

Present manufacturers of wire fabric security fences use machine formed wire ties to secure the fence fabric to the fence frame structure. The conventional wire tie is merely a length of wire wrapped around the fence rail and fabric with closure being accomplished by twisting the wire ends around each other with a conventional pliers or power-wrapping tool. With recent increased incidents of vandalism, tamper-proof wire fence clamps and wire ties are required to prevent unauthorized removal of the wire fabric material from fence frame structures.

One such tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamp is fully disclosed in copending application entitled Tamper-Proof Wire Fabric Fence Clamps, Ser. No. 432,358, filed Jan. 10, 1974 in the name of P. A. Basile and A. Kolessar, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

In brief, the tamper-proof fence clamp described in the aforementioned application comprises a relatively thin elongated, normally U-shaped metal strap which is adapted to encircle the tubular fence structure together with a portion of wire fabric. Hook-shaped .portions are provided on the terminal ends of the strap which are cooperatively engagable with each other and adapted subsequently to be bent toward a transverse ridge provided proximate one terminal end portion of the strap thereby locking the strap and securely affixing the wire fabric to the tubular fence structure.

Installation of this wire fabric fence clamp would be facilitated by the provision of a tool having means for causing cooperative engagement of the hook-shaped terminalends of the strap and for providing further means for bending the engaged hookshaped terminal ends into a locking position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool of simplified construction which may be used to facilitate the installation of-a tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamp having a pair of hook-shaped terminal end portions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive plier-like hand tool which may be employed to facilitate the installation of tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamps.

Briefly described, the hand tool contemplated by the prevent invention comprises first and second members pivotally connected together for rotation about a common axis with the first and second members forming a pair of opposed handle portions extending rearwardly from said common axis and a pair of opposed jaw portions extending forwardly from said common axis. One of said jaw portions terminates in an elongated projec tion adapted to cooperatively engage one terminal end of the wire fabric fence clamp, whereas the other of said jaw portions terminates in a tapered transverse edge parallel to said common axis in longitudinal spaced relation to said elongated projection and is adapted to cooperate with the other terminal end of the wire fabric fence clamp. The extremities of the jaw portions are substantially equally longitudinally spaced BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is side view of a hand tool, according to the present invention, shown in position for engaging the terminal end hook portions of a fabric fence clamp during installation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the hand tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the upper jaw of the hand tool shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary frontal view of the upper and lower jaws of the hand tool taken along the line 4l4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the lower jaw shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged pictorial representation of a V tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamp adapted for installation by the hand tool of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the cooperation of the upper and lower jaws of the hand tool with the terminal ends of the clamp of FIG. 6 prior to the installation thereof;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the cooperation of the upper and lower jaws of the hand tool with the terminal ends of the clamp of FIG. 6 during installation thereof;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the cooperation of the upper and lower jaws of the hand tool with the clamp of FIG. 6 at the completion of installation thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and, initially, to FIG. I, there is shown a hand tool 10, in accordance with the present invention, in position for engaging the first and second hook-shaped terminal end portions 12 and M respectively, of a wire fabric fence clamp generally represented by reference numeral 16. The fence clamp 16 in FIG. 1 is shown encircling a tubular fence structure 18 and a strand of wire 20 which is part of a wire fabric fence material, not shown. The strand of wire 20 is ac commodated within a centrally located oblique groove 22 opening interiorly of the fence clamp 16. An enlarged pictorial representation of the tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamp 16 is shown in FIG. 6.

The hand tool If) is plier-like in form and operation and comprises first and second longitudinally extending opposed members 24 and 26, respectively. The first member 24 includes therewith a first jaw portion 40 and a first handle portion 34 integrally joined together by a section 30 of reduced thickness (FIG. 2); whereas the second member includes a second jaw portion and a second handle portion 32 integrally joined by a second section of reduced thickness 31 (FIG. 2). The first portion 30 of reduced thickness is juxtaposed relative to the second portion 31 of reduced thickness to define a common bearing section 33 through which the first and second opposed members are pivotally connected together, in a conventional manner, for rotation about a pivotal axis 28. The axis 28 is substantially centrally located with respect to the common bearing section 33. Thus, opposed handle portions 32 and 34 extend rearwardly from the pivotal axis 28 and preferably are provided with conventional cushion grips 36, 38, respectively.

The first or upper jaw portion 40 of hand tool 10, as best shown in FIGS 2, 3, and 4, extends forwardly from the pivotal axis 28 and terminates in an elongated projection 42, preferably rounded or conical in shape. The jaw portion 40 is also provided with a notch 44 adjacent the elongated projection 42 which, during installation of the fence clamp 16, is adapted to cooperatively engage an edge 46 provided in the upper arm 78 of the clamp 16 by means of an aperture or perforation 48 (FIG. 6) provided proximate one terminal end 12 of the fence clamp, as will be explained hereinafter.

The second, or lower jaw portion 50 of hand tool also extends forwardly from said common pivotal axis 28 and is adapted to cooperate with and is centrally positioned with respect to the first jaw portion 40, as is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The second jaw portion 50 terminates in a tapered transverse edge 52 which is chisel-like in appearance and preferably is parallel to the common pivotal axis 28 and furthermore, is adapted to cooperatively engage the second terminal end portion 14 of clamp 16. For this purpose a centrally positioned protrusion 54 is provided on the tapered edge 52 of the second jaw portion 50. The protrusion 54 is adapted to be received through a cut-out 56 provided in the free end of the second hook-shaped terminal end portion 14 of clamp 16 during installation of the clamp as will be explained hereinafter.

The second jaw portion 50 is also provided with a transverse groove 58 spaced from but near tapered edge 52 and which is adapted to accommodate a transverse ridge 60 provided on the clamp 16 during the installation of the clamp.

Further included on the inner surface of the second jaw portion 50, proximate the transverse edge 52 thereof is an arcuate-shaped surface 62 and adjacent thereto a flat wall surface 63 longitudinally spaced (with reference to the tools longitudinal axis) from tapered transverse edge 52 as best seen in FIG. 5. The arcuate surface 62 and its adjacent wall surface 63 define a cam surface adapted to guide the hook-shaped terminal ends 12 and 14 of clamp 16 into cooperative engagement with each other when installing the clamp 16.

The hand tool 10 is preferably provided with a first pair of cooperating abutting surfaces 64, 66 located on jaw portions 40, 50, respectively, and a second pair of cooperating abutting surfaces 68, 70 located on handle portions 32, 34, respectively, for determining the closed position of the hand tool. In the closed position of the hand tool 10 as shown in FIG. 9 there exists a longitudinal spaced relationship between the extremity of projection 42 and the extremity of tapered edge 52 as shown in FIG. 4 and this spacing functions to prevent the tool jaws 40 and 50 from unduly distorting and possibly destroying the hook-shaped portions of the clamp 16. Furthermore, the aforementioned spacing when the tool is in its closed position always prevents the elongated projection 42 of the first jaw 40 from coming into contact with the protrusion 54 of jaw 50, thereby preventing undue wear of both projection 42 and protrusion 54 when the hand tool is in service.

It is to be noted that in the closed position of the hand tool 10 the extremity of the projection 42 and the extremity of the tapered edge 52 are substantially longitudinally equidistant from the common pivotal axis 28 and furthermore, that the plane of the front surface 69 of the upper jaw 40 is at a slight angle to the plane of the front surface 71 of the lower jaw 50. The latter arrangement is preferred in that it permits the front face of the hand tool to conform approximately to the out side curvature of the tubular structure 18 and the fence clamp during operation of the tool as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 8.

In the preferred embodiment of the hand tool 10, the second or lower jaw portion is provided with a flat hammer-like surface 72 on the outer periphery thereof.

, The hammer-like surface 72 eliminates the need for a second tool when completing the installation of the clamp 16.

For added convenience the hand tool 10, may be provided with pairs of slots 74,76 in thereduced thickness sections 31, 30 of the first and second members 24, 26. Since the juxtaposed sections 30, 31 are in close rubbing engagement with one another each pair of slots 74, 76 forms a wire cutting means capable of cutting a strand of wire 20 when the latter is disposed within the cooperating slots 74 and 76, and the tool operated to the closed condition. When the tool is operated to the closed condition the wire strand 20 will be sheared off and severed. by opposite movement of the adjacent edges of the slots, 74, 76.

' The hand tool 10 may be utilized to install a tamperproof wire fabric fence clamp such as that shown in FIG. 6 in the following manner. The u-shaped clamp l6 preferably is positioned as shown in FIG. 7 so that the upper and lower arm portions 78 and 80, respectively, surround the tubular fence frame structure. Preferably the elongated projection 42 of upper jaw 40 of the hand tool 10 is inserted into aperture 48 of clamp 16 causing notch 44 to engage edge 46 of aperture 48. The protrusion 54 on the lower jaw 50 is inserted into cut'out 56 so the edge 52 may engage the hook-shaped portion 14 of clamp 16 (see FIG. 7). Accordingly, when the upper jaw 40 and the lower jaw 56 of hand tool 10 are displaced toward each other by corresponding movement of handle portions 32 and 34 toward each other, the hook-shaped portions 12 and 14 of clamp 16 are urged into cooperative engagement with each other as shown in FIG. 8. The cam 62, 63 provided on the lower jaw 50 guides the hook-shaped portion 12 to insure the positive engagement of the latter with hook-shaped portion 14. Once the hook-shaped portions have become engaged the hand tool 10 is opened slightly and removed from the clamp 16. The hammer-like surface 72 of the lower jaw 50 may then be used to bend the cooperatively engaged hook-shaped portions 12 and 14 towards the transverse ridge until flush therewith. as shown in FIG. 9, to complete the installation.

In view of theforegoing, it will not be appreciated that the invention discloses a relatively inexpensive plier-like hand tool of simplified construction which may be used to install tamper-proof wire fabric fence clamps. And although the hand tool of the present invention has been described with reference to a particular preferred form of fence clamp, it will be understood that the hand tool of the present invention may be used with other forms of fence clamps as well. Accordingly, the present invention should be limited only by the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what is claimed is:

1. A hand tool for installing wire fabric fenceclamps comprising: first and second members, said first and second members being pivotally connected together for rotation about a common axis between a closed condition and an open condition, said first and second members forming a pair of opposed handle portions and a pair of opposed jaw portions, said pair of handle portions extending rearwardly from said common axis, said pair of jaw portions extending forwardly from said common axis, one of said pair of jaw portions terminating in an elongated projection extending toward said other of said jaw portions and being adapted to cooperate with an aperture provided proximate one terminal end of a wire fabric fence clamp, the other of said pair of jaw portions being tapered in the direction of said elongated projection to define a transversely extending terminal edge disposed parallel to said common axis whereby said other of said pair of jaw portions is adapted to cooperate with a hook-shaped portion provided in another terminal end of said fence clamp, said transversely extending terminal edge including a substantially centrally disposed protrusion extending therefrom toward the extremity of said elongated projection, the extremities of said elongated projection and said protrusion being spaced from one another and being substantially equally longitudinally spaced from said common axis when said pair of opposed jaw portions are in said closed condition.

2. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said one jaw portion is provided with a notched portion adjacent said elongated projection whereby said notched portion is adapted to engage the edge of said aperture provided proximate said one terminal end of said wire fabric fence clamp.

3. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said first and second members respectively include a pair of co operatively abutting surfaces positioned between said jaw portions and said pivotal axis for determining the closed operating condition for said! tool.

4. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said first and second members respectively include a pair of cooperatively abutting surfaces positioned between said handle portions and said pivotal axis.

5. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said other jaw portion is provided with cam means, said cam means comprising an arcuate surface adjacent said tapered jaw portion and a flat wall surface adjacent said arcuate surface and being spaced from said tapered jaw portion toward said common axis.

6. A hand tool according to claim 1 including a flat hammer-like surface disposed on the periphery of one of said jaw portions.

7. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said other jaw portion is provided with a transverse recess disposed on the periphery thereof proximate said tapered transversely extending terminal edge whereby said recess is adapted to accommodate a transverse outwardly protruding ridge provided proximate said hook-shaped portions on said other terminal end of said fence clamp.

8. The invention of claim 1 in which said one jaw portion includes a substantially flat end face, and said other jaw portion includes a substantially flat end face, said end face corresponding to said one jaw portion being disposed at an angle to said other jaw portion when said jaw portions are in said closed condition. 

1. A hand tool for installing wire fabric fence clamps comprising: first and second members, said first and second members being pivotally connected together for rotation about a common axis between a closed condition and an open condition, said first and second members forming a pair of opposed handle portions and a pair of opposed jaw portions, said pair of handle portions extending rearwardly from said common axis, said pair of jaw portions extending forwardly from said common axis, one of said pair of jaw portions terminating in an elongated projection extending toward said other of said jaw portions and being adapted to cooperate with an aperture provided proximate one terminal end of a wire fabric fence clamp, the other of said pair of jaw portions being tapered in the direction of said elongated projection to define a transversely extending terminal edge disposed parallel to said common axis whereby said other of said pair of jaw portions is adapted to cooperate with a hook-shaped portion provided in another terminal end of said fence clamp, said transversely extending terminal edge including a substantially centrally disposed protrusion extending therefrom toward the extremity of said elongated projection, the extremities of said elongated projection and said protrusion Being spaced from one another and being substantially equally longitudinally spaced from said common axis when said pair of opposed jaw portions are in said closed condition.
 2. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said one jaw portion is provided with a notched portion adjacent said elongated projection whereby said notched portion is adapted to engage the edge of said aperture provided proximate said one terminal end of said wire fabric fence clamp.
 3. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said first and second members respectively include a pair of cooperatively abutting surfaces positioned between said jaw portions and said pivotal axis for determining the closed operating condition for said tool.
 4. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said first and second members respectively include a pair of cooperatively abutting surfaces positioned between said handle portions and said pivotal axis.
 5. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said other jaw portion is provided with cam means, said cam means comprising an arcuate surface adjacent said tapered jaw portion and a flat wall surface adjacent said arcuate surface and being spaced from said tapered jaw portion toward said common axis.
 6. A hand tool according to claim 1 including a flat hammer-like surface disposed on the periphery of one of said jaw portions.
 7. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein said other jaw portion is provided with a transverse recess disposed on the periphery thereof proximate said tapered transversely extending terminal edge whereby said recess is adapted to accommodate a transverse outwardly protruding ridge provided proximate said hook-shaped portions on said other terminal end of said fence clamp.
 8. The invention of claim 1 in which said one jaw portion includes a substantially flat end face, and said other jaw portion includes a substantially flat end face, said end face corresponding to said one jaw portion being disposed at an angle to said other jaw portion when said jaw portions are in said closed condition. 